Coach

YESSS! What they said ^. I wish I were out there hunting them, but too many projects at home and work right now. If you're not hunting 'cause you think the rut is done, it's not. This is a great year for horn growth and the rut is still going strong. Never a better time to get after them.

That's awesome! Way to get it done with a bow. Huge congrats to you and your son. Great times in the field together and a whopper of a pig.

Nicely done! Those piggies are addicting. Gonna try and get one with my flintlock this year.

Basketball, whether it's college or pros just looks to me like street gangs. I can't stand to watch it. The entire sport has lost all credibility for me, and to make matters even worse, WNBA, WTF? Blast away.

Nice!!!

Sweet! Nice way to start it off.

Now THAT's how you write up a hunting story! Great story, awesome pics along the way, felt like I was right there in the moment. Thanks for taking the time to write it up and share. I've never seen pigs in the snow like that. Very cool.

Beautiful buck! Way to stay after it - especially the work in finding and recovering him. Huge congrats.

Nicely done, sir! Great job.

Prayers sent for Jared, Mike and their family.

I like the idea. I'm planning on getting into better shape for canyoneering this year and looking into crossfit. My wife and her friend are gymnastics coaches and we just moved them into a huge warehouse next to crossfit in Lakeside and it looks like a fun way to get in shape. I didn't see anything about the preparation for "train to hunt" - is it a full time workout, diet regimen, etc, or just a yearly competition?

While I love havalons and carry one with me on all hunts, I still don't think they are a replacement to good fixed blade and folding knives. The bigger the game the more knives I carry. Buck 119 is one of my favorites and I have quartered, boned and processed into steaks many elk with the same knife, but it does need a touch up from time to time. The best one I've found is the one AZ41Mag has in his post. I have a couple that are blue, but the same sharpener. Reversible diamond hone, takes up virtually no space and doesn't shave your blade like those carbide ones - with a little practice you can keep your knife razor sharp through an entire elk - or even a couple back-to-back. It even has a fish hook groove for honing your hooks. http://www.amazon.com/Knife-Sharpener-BlizeTec-3--Secateurs/dp/B00KRN00UK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1420245109&sr=8-5&keywords=blue+diamond+hone

Aay to get it started off right for 2015. Sounds like a great stalk and shot.

Are you suggesting we start thinning out the population? Just kidding, but exactly what do you mean by "do something about it" when it comes to overpopulation?

Bad roads up here tonight. Glad I'm at home.

Whatever Anu Year's Eve is - I'm having a good one and looks like you are too. Duel in the Desert 2014 #11 Arizona 42, #13 ASU 35

Those guys are great. I bought some 10x42 swaros with them and they were really great to work with. They know optics and can get you behind what's best for you - some guys do better with Zeiss, some Leica, some Swaro. Not too many places where you can look through all of them side-by-side at an actual mountain as opposed to the inside of a store.

Awesome year. I really like these type of "recap the year" threads where we get to see all the great trophies and highlights a person or family have accomplished. Great job!

Unfortunately, that's public land hunting. As others have mentioned it's still first come first served. If you get there first and he decides to sit right next to you anyway it'll be uncomfortable, but not unheard of. These days it seems one of the biggest challenges in hunting is finding a good spot isn't really obvious with the hopes that someone else won't also find it - but that is tough to do. On the other hand, there are people who stake out 5, 10, even dozens of spots with trail cams and stands but they can only be in one of those at any given time. Just putting your gear up in an area doesn't give you any special rights to that spot. Maybe he's banking on the chance that you'll be sitting somewhere else the day he decides to hunt there - and maybe he'll be ethical enough, if he does come in and find you sitting there first to back out quietly. Best of luck on your hunt.

Sneaking into bow range on a buck with a bunch of does has to be the ultimate challenge. I've tried it lots of times and the closest I've gotten is - well, not very close. So many eyes and ears and the terrain is open and noisy. Just keep at it. From what I've heard, sooner or later, that guy will make a mistake. Hasn't happened for me yet, but I figure every time you get busted you learn something. And the more you fail and learn, the better your chances on the next stalk. Best of luck to you.

Man - that is absolutely awesome. What a great season for this young lady, and what a great job you did helping her make the best of some great tags. Huge kudos to you both.

Hard part is finding where the squeak is coming from. I've had that from time to time and can only hear it when I'm wearing it. It's almost like that noise from under your truck that only happens when you drive it. You pretty much need to be under it while it's moving to find out where it's coming from.

So, just to be clear. When the spear-heads want to talk smack, 2014 - CATS WIN.

Great job to both of you!

TJ's a tough old bird - chases wounded piggies into catclaw thickets on hands and knees. He's also the kind of man that would give the shirt off his back, or his last dime to help someone in need. The news that he's OK aside from some bruising is just awesome to hear. TJ, my best thoughts and prayers to a speedy recovery.